Corsair RM850i Fully Modular 850W Power Supply Review

Introduction and Features

Introduction

Corsair offers a large selection of PC power supplies and today we will be taking a detailed look at their new RM850i PSU. The RMi Series includes four models: the RM650i, RM750i, RM850i, and RM1000i. As you can see in the diagram below, the RMi Series is located squarely in the middle of Corsair’s power supply lineup. Corsair currently offers thirty four different models ranging from the 350 watt VS350 all the way up to the king-of-the-hill 1,500 watt AX1500i.

The new Corsair RMi Series power supplies are equipped with fully modular cables and optimized for very quiet operation and high efficiency. RMi Series power supplies incorporate Zero RPM Fan Mode, which means the fan does not spin until the power supply is under a moderate to heavy load. The cooling fan is custom-designed for use in PSUs to deliver low noise and high static pressure. All of the RMi Series power supplies are 80 Plus Gold certified for high efficiency.

The Corsair RMi Series is built with high-quality components, including all Japanese made electrolytic capacitors, and Corsair guarantees these PSUs to deliver clean, stable, continuous power, even at ambient temperatures up to 50°C. Each RMi Series power supply also supports Corsair’s Link software to monitor various power supply parameters and enable/disable OCP on the +12V outputs.

RMi vs. RM Series Advantages

Corsair has incorporated a number of enhancements, which differentiate the new RMi Series from the original RM Series. Here is an overview:

• RMi Series comes with a 7-year warranty, instead of the RM’s 5-years
• ALL Japanese made capacitors ensure long life and best in class performance
• RMi Series is rated for full output at 50°C, instead of 40°C
• Fluid Dynamic Bearing fan delivers longer life than RM’s rifle-bearing fan
• Additional Corsair Link control capabilities and features

And for all these additional features, you only pay ~$10 USD price premium!

Establishing an accurate load is critical to testing and evaluating a PC power supply. PCPerspective’s power supply test bench can place a precise DC load on the PSU under test. Each power supply is tested under controlled, real-world conditions up to its maximum rated load (at 40ºC), using both 115 VAC and 240 VAC line voltage. Our current suite of tests includes: